A 36-year-old man from Hayden, Alabama, has died after his van collided head-on with a tractor-trailer early Wednesday morning on Interstate 65, near Dodge City in Cullman County. The victim has been identified as Robert W. Nerovich.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the crash occurred around 6 a.m. Dec. 10, just one mile north of Dodge City, near the Alabama Highway 69 exit. Nerovich was traveling in a 2011 Ford E-350 when his vehicle struck a 2026 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by 26-year-old Tyavian T. Ingram of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Emergency crews arrived on scene shortly after the crash. Sadly, Nerovich was pronounced dead at the scene — his injuries proved fatal despite the efforts of first responders. Ingram, the truck driver, did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries; authorities have not released any details about his condition.
The tragedy has shaken the tight-knit Hayden community. Neighbors, co-workers, and friends recalled Nerovich as someone who kept a simple routine — a regular commute, daily tasks — a life now cut short in a matter of seconds. The shock and sorrow have rippled across Cullman County as people grapple with the suddenness of the loss.
ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division is leading the investigation. At this time, no evidence has been made public to suggest weather or road conditions played a part, and officials have not indicated any suspicion of wrongdoing. Rather, law enforcement is focusing on gathering witness statements, inspecting both vehicles, and reviewing travel timelines to reconstruct precisely what happened.
As is often the case with collisions involving commercial trucks, investigators will pay particular attention to standard safety factors — such as vehicle maintenance, driving speed, traffic flow, and driver alertness. Given the weight and potential danger posed by heavy tractor-trailers, even routine commutes can turn deadly. But ALEA emphasized that the inquiry remains ongoing, and no conclusions have been drawn.
For now, residents are reminded of the grave dangers that accompany early-morning travel along busy interstate highways — especially stretches like I-65, which see both heavy commuter traffic and large commercial vehicles. Needing only seconds, a normal drive became a community’s heartbreak. Our thoughts go out to Nerovich’s loved ones as Cullman County awaits further updates from investigators.
